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of an eating disorder (Guille and Chrisler 1999). Those who identify with feminist values are
also less likely to report body dissatisfaction (Martz, Handley and Eisler 1995). Many clinicians
now argue that eating disorder treatment should encourage the development of a feminist identity
(Sabik and Tylka 2006; Shisslak and Crago 1994; Snyder and Hasbrouck 1996). At the very
least, eating disorder treatment should discourage adherence to traditional gender roles (Martz,
Handley and Eisler 1995).
Participant observation in support groups reveals that participants do learn and implement
challenges to the gendered social order. More specifically, participants learn to trust their
experience and to assert themselves in personal relationships. In addition, participants affirm the
value of emotion, including anger. Participants do not, however, collectively identify as women
but rather on the narrower basis of a shared disorder. As a result, support groups do not
contribute to feminist identity development. Moreover, in failing to provide an alternative basis
for participants’ challenges, support groups in effect create a disincentive for recovery.
Participants must continue to identify as eating disordered in order to enjoy such benefits.
Enabled by frame and disease extension, participants’ come to adopt eating disordered as a
primary identity. Such findings carry both practical and theoretical implications. First, this
study yields insights into how we might improve support groups. Second, these findings suggest
a need to qualify previous research exploring support groups’ mobilization potential and to
explore the role of self-labeling in mental illness.
Data and Methods
This study reflects my experience attending four different eating disorder support groups
in the Chicago area and surrounding suburbs over the course of 10 months. Each is a “closed”
meeting, meaning that only eating disorder sufferers may attend.
2
My own eating disorder
experience proved an asset in this regard. While participants were aware of my research
objectives, my role as a researcher was second to that of participant once each participant had an
opportunity to decline consent and the meeting began. All of the groups are free and open to the
public. Although lay people typically lead support groups, therapists facilitated half of the
2
Many eating disorder support groups are “open,” meaning that friends, family, and other support people are
welcome to attend. I have opted to focus exclusively on closed meetings because the presence of family and friends
may censor discussion. Many individuals’ eating disorders are related to family tensions. Moreover, eating
disorders also profoundly affect sufferers’ interpersonal relationships. Focusing on closed meetings insures that
participants feel uninhibited in discussing their experiences.
Convention